1) Do you believe this is true for you, or only other people?
I don’t fit the premise of the statement—my cherished spouse is not yet late, so it’s hard to say.
2) If you know that someone’s cherished late spouse cheated on them, are you justified in keeping silent about the fact?
Mostly yes.
3) Are you justified in lying to prevent the other person from realizing?
Mostly no.
4) If you suspect for yourself (but are not sure) that the cherished late spouse might have been unfaithful, do you think that you will be better off, both for the single deed, and as a matter of your whole life, if you refuse to engage in any investigation that might resolve your doubts one way or the other?
Depends on the person. Some people would be able to leave their doubts unresolved and get on with their life—others would find their quality of life affected by their persistent doubts.
If there is no resolving investigation, do you think that exerting some kind of effort to “persuade yourself”, will leave you better off?
No. You can count that as a win if you like—“deluding myself” is too strong. “I am better off remaining deluded …” is more likely to be true for some people.
5) Would you rather associate with friends who would (a) tell you if they discovered previously unsuspected evidence that your cherished late spouse had been unfaithful, or who would (b) remain silent about it?
Supposing I am emotionally fragile and might harm myself if I discovered that my spouse had been unfaithful, (b). Supposing that I am emotionally stable and that I place great weight on having an accurate view of the circumstances of my life, (a). Other situations, other judgment calls.
Which would be a better human being in your eyes, and which would be a better friend to you?
Depends on how I can reasonably be expected to react.
1) Do you believe this is true for you, or only other people?
I don’t fit the premise of the statement—my cherished spouse is not yet late, so it’s hard to say.
2) If you know that someone’s cherished late spouse cheated on them, are you justified in keeping silent about the fact?
Mostly yes.
3) Are you justified in lying to prevent the other person from realizing?
Mostly no.
4) If you suspect for yourself (but are not sure) that the cherished late spouse might have been unfaithful, do you think that you will be better off, both for the single deed, and as a matter of your whole life, if you refuse to engage in any investigation that might resolve your doubts one way or the other?
Depends on the person. Some people would be able to leave their doubts unresolved and get on with their life—others would find their quality of life affected by their persistent doubts.
If there is no resolving investigation, do you think that exerting some kind of effort to “persuade yourself”, will leave you better off?
No. You can count that as a win if you like—“deluding myself” is too strong. “I am better off remaining deluded …” is more likely to be true for some people.
5) Would you rather associate with friends who would (a) tell you if they discovered previously unsuspected evidence that your cherished late spouse had been unfaithful, or who would (b) remain silent about it?
Supposing I am emotionally fragile and might harm myself if I discovered that my spouse had been unfaithful, (b). Supposing that I am emotionally stable and that I place great weight on having an accurate view of the circumstances of my life, (a). Other situations, other judgment calls.
Which would be a better human being in your eyes, and which would be a better friend to you?
Depends on how I can reasonably be expected to react.